I have no idea what you’re talking about. What prophecy? Where? Specific example?

“not oral stories that were handed down (and changed) from generation to generation.”

This is a gigantic can of worms that’s been opened, so I found a website to do it for me.
http://www.everystudent.com/features/bible.html

Be sure to check out the home page of that site. It contains many of the books that weren’t included in the Bible you read today as well as nonchristian writers such as Josephus and Papias that make references to historical events.

Here also is the Old Testament section. Dating is important because a prophecy isn’t a prophecy if the prophecy was written after the event no? Authorship is important because you want to make sure you are getting first hand information and not oral stories that were handed down (and changed) from generation to generation.

http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com

The authors and dating of the gospels are highly contested. Many scholars believe Mark was the first gospel written around 70 AD. That is 70 years AFTER Christ. That would mean the author would have written something 30+ years after the event in addition to the fact that the author would be rather aged. The site below is an excellent resource for the various arguments concerning the dating and authorship of ALL the books of the old and new testament. Perhaps some research is in order.

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/mark.html

I recall you said this earlier.

“Plenty of people call themselves “christians” but they don’t even know “why” they are christian or what they really believe in. They just follow along with whatever a priest or pastor tells them, but never bother to find out if the Bible says that or its just their particular sect that believes it.”

The first four chapters of the New Testaments are Christ’s Words as reported from 4 different men, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Four different people bore witness to Christ’s words and actions and wrote them all down.
The Bible IS Christ’s Words and God’s Words because Christ followed God.

Jesus says nothing if you do not read his words in the Bible.
You would never find out what any ancient person said if you did not read their words.

That’s like saying don’t read “The Apology” because instead you should find out what Socrates said. How else are you going to find out what Socrates said in his speech during his trial. Plato was present at the trial and wrote it all down to preserve it.

Plenty of people call themselves “christians” but they don’t even know “why” they are christian or what they really believe in. They just follow along with whatever the Bible tells them, but never bother to find out if Jesus says that or its just their particular sect that believes it.